Dehydrator



Dec. 7, 1937. F. Y. TAKENAGA DEHYDRATOR Original Filed Oct. 30, 1935 N HIQMI Ema/HM Frank I Taken aga i atented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 695,877, October 30, 1933.

This application April 16, 1935, Serial No. 16,704

Claims. (CI. 34-49) This invention residesin the provision of a dehydrator which is especially designed for drying and treating chili peppers and similar hollow fruits and vegetables.

5 This application is refiled for abandoned application Serial No. 695,877 filed Oct. 30, 1933.

The market value of dried chili peppers is determined by the color and texture of'the skin exteriorly and interiorly thereof as well as by ascertaining whether or not the interiors, particularly the cone like inner extensions from the stem ends of the peppers, are thoroughly dry. Those of the dried peppers having a uniform deep red color and a uniform skin texture inside and out as well as thoroughly dry interiors are classed as first grade and it should be noted that in grading a batch of dried peppers more than fifteen grades are usually made whereby it is apparent that but a small percentage of a given lot of peppers cured under methods heretofore used are of first quality.

In the dehydrating of chili peppers with dehydrators such as heretofore available, difiiculties affecting the preserving qualities, appearance and market value of the finished product are often encountered. These difliculties result from attempting to effect complete dehydration in a single chamber where the peppers are maintained for such length of time as estimated suflicient to 30 bring about the desired cure. Under such treat ment the exteriors of the peppers are often overcured with the result of objectionable shriveling and discoloration thereof, the peppers often turning a dark brown or black color and lacking uniformity both as to color and texture, whereas the interiors are often undercured, particularly at the cone line inner extensions from the stem ends. Where the interiors are undercured, the preserving qualities of the peppers are impaired and not infrequently the peppers will spoil or mold, the mold often showing exteriorly of the peppers. Further, the interiors often develop an undesirable rough uneven texture.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a dehydrator and method of dehydrating which will eliminate the objections and uncertainties hereinbefore noted and as often encountered in the dry curing of chili peppers and like hollow fruits and vegetables, to the end that a materially greater yield of first quality dried peppers will be obtained and an appreciable saving therefore.

Another object is to provide a dehydrator such as described which may also be efficaciously employed for dehydrating fruits, vegetables and foods other than those hereinbefore noted.

A further object is to provide a dehydrator which is characterized by a plurality of independent drying or dehydrating chambers which may be used singly or collectively in various ways to best suit the particular fruits or vegetables being treated, and which is subject to a novel heat control and to continuous operation in a most efficient manner.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing will beset forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawing= Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, longitudinal semischematic sectional view of a dehydrator constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of schematic nature showing the apparatus of Fig. 1 in top plan and in section;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the air heater showing the end thereof opposite that revealed in Fig. 1.

The present embodiment of the invention as shown in detail in the accompanying drawing generally comprises an air heating furnace A, supplying heated air to independent dehydrating chambers 13 and C, a track D extending through both chambers, and cars E for supporting drying trays F, it being noted that the chambers are spaced apart sufficiently to permit one of the cars E to move out of one chamber and stand on the track exposed to the atmosphere, from which point the car may be moved into the other chamher.

The two chambers are provided in order that difierent drying effects may be independently or simultaneously obtained, it being desirable to produce a greater heat in one chamber than in the other whereby the chili peppers or the like may be subjected to a two stage treatment.

As here shown, chamber B is arranged to be heated to a greater temperature than chamber C and the peppers are first treated in chamber B and then in chamber C. The object is to subject the green and comparatively moist peppers to the higher heat of chamber B to effect a substantial dehydration thereof but to remove the peppers and subject them to the more moderate temperature of chamber C to complete the dehydration thereof gradually and thoroughly under a heat which will not produce the hereinbeforc noted shriveling and discoloration objections.

The air heater A may be of any suitable type provided as here shown it has air heating compartments 4 and 5 separated by a partition 5 'and heated by a burner means indicated at 1.

Referring to heater compartment 4 it is seen that atmospheric air may enter it at the intake opening 8 and under action of a motor driven blower 9 be heated in transit through said compartment into duct l thence through said blower, duct l2 and into the chamber C through chamber intake opening l3. The heated air then passes through chamber C, out discharge opening |4, ducts l and I6 and enters compartment .5 through intake opening IT. The preheated air thus delivered to compartment 5 is there superheated and by the action of a blower i9 is drawn through duct |9 and forced through duct 20 and intake 2| into chamber B. The heated air in chamber B may be vented to the atmosphere by raising the counterbalanced door 22 or may be drawn through outlet opening 23, duct 24 into duct l6 and back into compartment 5 of the heater, depending on the conditions to be met and the temperatures desired. Heated air returned to compartment 5 from chamber B is again heated and returned to chamber B as a comparatively hot air stream.

To provide for use of chamber B only, as for example when the dehydrating operation is commenced, a slide door 26 in the duct H1 is closed and a door 21 at the juncture of ducts i5 and I6 is likewise closed. At the start of this operation, blower l8 only is operated and doors 28 controlling atmospheric air intake into compartment 5 are opened as is also the slide door 29 between ducts |0 and 9. Atmospheric air is then drawn into both heating compartments 4 and 5 where it is heated and then passes through communicating ducts l0 and I9 into the blower l8 and from thence through duct 20 and intake 2| into chamber B, then through outlet 23, ducts 24 and i6 and back into chamber 5 where the air stream is reheated and again forced through chamber B.

If it is desired to discharge the heated air into the atmosphere from the outer end of chamber B then the door 3| at the juncture of ducts 24 and I6 is closed and door 22 is raised.

Dampers 33 at the outer end of the heater provide for introduction of atmospheric air at that point whereby to regulate the temperature of the circulated hot air stream forced through the system.

Operation In starting a dehydrating operation cars E loaded with trays F of green chili peppers are moved on track D into chamber B the counterbalanced door 22 being raised, whereas the counterbalanced door 36 is closed. The door 22 is then closed as also are the doors 26 and 21, whereas doors 28. 29 and 3| are opened. Upon now starting the burner and blower l8, atmospheric air will be drawn into both compartments outlet opening 23.

The temperature of the hot air stream forced in chamber B may be regulated by manipulation of the dampers 33, or by closing door 3| and opening door 22 to the atmosphere, or by closing doors 28, 29 and 3| and opening doors 26 and 21. In the latter case, the blower 9 is brought in operation and the air heated in compartment 4 is circulated as hereinbefore explained through chamber C and then into compartment 5, from thence it is forced through chamber B.

To prepare chamber C for the gradual finishing treatment of the peppers, before the first treatment in chamber B is completed, the operator closes doors 28 and 3| and opens doors 26, 21 and 29 and starts blower 9 to circulate heated air as hereinbefore explained first through chamber C and then in heater compartment 5 and from there into chamber C.

It should be noted that before the first treatment of a batch of peppers is completed and the cars are run into chamber C for the finishing treatment, then the apparatusmay be operated continuously, as next above noted, to circulate air through chamber C first and then reheat said airwhereby to send an air stream of higher temperature continuously through the first stage chamber B. In this way the two treatments are carried on simultaneously in independent chambers withbut a single air heater unit.

The operator by raising door 35 may have access to the interior of chamber B whereby to inspect the peppers to ascertain the extent of treatment. When treated to the desired extent, the cars are moved from chamber 13 along track 1) into the open space between the two chambers and are thus exposed to the atmosphere purposely for such length of time as estimated desirable by the operator.

This exposure of the peppers between the two treatments thereof has been found desirable as the color and skin texture may be gauged by such treatment. After this exposure treatment the door 40 is raised and the cars are rolled into chamber C for the finishing treatment, the door 4| at the other end of chamber C being closed. These doors 40 and 4| are slanted and act as baiiies in the same manner as doors 22 and 39. After the finishing treatment the cars of peppers are rolled out of chamber C and the peppers may then be removed and packed or stored.

It is important to note that the method hereof provides for subjecting the green peppers, vegetables or fruits as the case may be to partial de-' hydration by circulating a relatively 'hot air stream through a dehydrating chamber, then 'moving the partially dehydrated Peppers out of the dehydrating zone into an atmosphere zone. then moving the peppers into a finishing chamber and causing a more gradual dehydrating action by circulating an air stream of lesser heat through said finishing chamber. Further it is important to note that these separate treatments may be carried on simultaneously and the entire apparatus continuously operated to effect the three stage treatments as above noted in a most economical and eflicient manner.

I claim:

1. In a dehydrator, independent dehydrating chambers having open ends, and heated air intake and discharge openings with the latter located at the lower side of said chambers adjacent said ends, doors at said ends being inclined and disposed to deflect the air streams entering and discharging from said chambers, an air heater, and means for circulating hot air streams through said chambers either through one chamber back to the heater and from thence, through the other chamber or through the last named chamber only.

2. In a dehydrator, independent dehydrating chambers being open at both ends, closures for said open ends, an air heater located to one side of and between said chambers having primary and secondary compartments each having an atmospheric air intake opening and a heated air outlet, the secondary compartment having a hot air intake opening, conduits leading from the heated air outlets of said compartments to and opening through the floors of said chambers, conduits leading from the floors of said chambers to .the hot air intake of the secondary compartment, and blower means for circulating heated air thru said chambers, conduits and compartments.

3. In a dehydrator, independent dehydrating chambers being open at both ends, closures for said open ends, an air heater located to one side of and between said chambers having primary and secondary compartments each having an atmospheric air intake opening and a heated air outlet, the secondary compartment having a hot air intake opening, conduits leading from the heated air outlets of said compartments to said chambers, conduits leading from the said chambers to the hot air intake of the secondary compartment, blower means for circulating heated air thru said chambers, conduits and compartments, and

means controlling the atmospheric air intake of said secondary compartment, said chambers having floor openings at respective ends thereof and with which said conduits are connected.

4. In a dehydrator, independent dehydrating chambers being open at both ends, closures for said open ends, an air heater located. to one side of and between said chambers havinggp'rimary and secondary compartments each havingan atmospheric air intake opening and a heated air outlet, the secondary compartment having a hot air intake opening, conduits leading from the heated air outlets of said compartments to said chamhers, conduits leading from the said chambers to the hot air intake of the secondary compartment, blower means for circulating heated air thru said chambers, conduits and compartments, means controlling the atmospheric air intake of said secondary compartment, and valve means'operable to control communication of the last named conduits with said hot air intake to provide for opening or closing either one or both of said conduits, said chambers having floor openings communicated with said conduits.

5. In a dehydrator, independent dehydrating chambers being alined with each other and spaced apart suillcient to permit a unit of material being treated thereby to stand therebetween exposed to the atmosphere, said chambers being open at both ends, a track extending thru between said chambers, said chambers having hot air discharge and intake openings adjacent the ends and at the lower side thereof, doors for said open ends, an air heater comprised of primary and secondary heating compartments, said heater being located to one side of and midway between said chambers, separate conduits for conducting heated air to .said chambers from said compartments, independent conduits for returning heated air from said chambers to the secondary only of said compartments, valve means operable to shut 0135 the return of air from either one or both of said last named conduits, means for forcing a circulation of the heated air throughout the compartments, conduits and chambers, said primary heating compartment having an open atmos-" pheric air intake, said secondary compartment having an atmospheric air intake, and a valve controlling the latter intake.

FRANK Y. TAKENAGA. 

